Improvement in rotary sieves



T. c. sTnAwN aw. c. DRUM.,

Rotary Sieves.

May3

Pa'tented AM. PHoraumnMAFf/rcco. Mywsonns'smocsss) UNITED STATES kPATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS O. STRAWN AND WILLIAM O. DRUM, OF PERRYTOWNSHIP, FAYETTE COUNTY, ASSIGNORS TO SPEER,'GLARKE & OO., OF PITTSBURG, PA.

IMPROVEMENT IN ROTARY SIEVES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 138,823, dated May 13, 1873; application filed Man-,h 1, 1873.

To all whom it may concer-n:

Beit known that we, lTHOMAS G. STRAWN and WILLIAM C. DRUM, of Perry township, in the county of Fayette and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Rotatory Sieve; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of our improved rotatory sieve and conductors. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the sieve detached, and Fig 3 is a vertical cross-section of the ma chine.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in each.

Our invention consists in an improved construction of a rotatory sieve, whereby it shall be enabled to discharge, in an automatic manner` the coarser particles, gravel, &c., which 'will not pass through the interstices between the wires.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use our invention, we will describe its construction and mode of operation.

The rotatory sieve or wheel a is hung upon an axle or shaft b in the frame c. In the frame c, below the wheel a, is a hopper-shaped box, d, which leads down to an opening, e. Arranged around the periphery of the wheel a, inside of the sifter or wire-work'al, are a number of buckets, one, two, or more, as the case may be, which are set at such an angle with a radius from the axle b that gravel lodged upon them shall be discharged therefrom when the bucket has reached or passed the level of the axle b. Just under this dischargingpoint, or so that it shall receive the matter discharged from the buckets f, we have placed a spout or conductor, A g, which is fastened to the side piece c of the frame c, and projects through the open side al of the wheel a. This spput may lead, by means of a suitable extension, to a rock crushing or grinding machine, into which the stones, te., shall be discharged so that they may be ground up. The sand or material is supplied to the wheel e by means of the inclined spout or conductor h, which is secured to the frame of the machine and leads into the wheel a through the open side a2.

When this sifter is used in connection with a grinding-machine, as spoken of above, the spout h is extended so as to lead from the discharging opening of the grinding-machine, so the sifter shall be supplied with material therefrom. By such an attachment or connection between the wheel a and a grinding-machine all of the material is utilized, because the coarser particles which will not pass through the sieve al are returned to the grinding-ma chine, to be reground, by means ofthe buckets f and the spout g.

Water is used in the grinding-machine in the operation of grinding or crushing the stone. This water iows through the spout h into the wheel a, carrying the sand or ground stone with it. The ner portions of the sand go through the sieve al, and thence through the opening c into a water-box or washer, where it is washed. The coarser portion of the sand is carried up by the buckets f and emptied into the spout g. Generally suliicient water is carried up with it to cause it to slide or wash down the spout; but if this is not the case, a jet of water may be turned onto the spout for this purpose.

It is frequently the case, especially in cold weather, that the sieve a becomes clogged and requires to be cleaned. For this purpose, byv means of a suitable pipe, m, we project a jet of steam against the surface of the sieve. This clears out the interstices of the sieve thoroughly, and, at the same time, requires no attention.

The inclination of the buckets f should be such as to cause them to empty their contents so that they shall fall into the spout g. They may be made straight-that is, in a line with the radiuses of the wheel. The buckets f and spout g must in all cases be arranged relatively to each other, for the reasons above given.

The wheel a is designed to be rotated by power communicated to thc axle b by any known mechanical device suitable for that purpose. It may, if desired, be rotated by hand by means of a crank on the end of the axle. When the Wheel a is used without the grinding-machine the material may be shoveled into the spout h, While the refuse is discharged through the spout g into any suitable receptacle.

This machine may be used for sifting-purposes generally. rlhe number and the specific form of the buckets f is a matter of construction left to the option of the builder.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The buckets f arranged in the periphery of the wheel a, in combination with the discharge-spoutg, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The Wheel a supplied with buckets f, in combination with the supply-spout h and the discharge-spout g, substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

3. The steam-pipe m, in combination with .the sieve al, for supplying a jet of steam for cleaning the same, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof We, the said THOMAS i 

